Pete Crow-Armstrong, the 24-year-old Cubs center fielder, isn’t just an All-Star anymore; he’s blasting his way into the MVP conversation. With the second half of the season about to kick off, this dude’s 11.2% walk rate has the entire league buzzing, making him the absolute biggest threat to Shohei Ohtani’s claim as the top player in baseball. It’s wild to see how quickly he’s flipped the script.
From Problem to Powerhouse: This Guy Knew What Was Up
Remember early last season when Crow-Armstrong was just trying to figure things out? He actually called his shot, telling someone in Cincinnati he was “definitely looking forward to the day that I have a better grasp of the strike zone and don’t swing at so many bad pitches.” How many players have that kind of self-awareness, not just recognizing a weakness but then putting in the absolute grind to fix it? That quote tells you everything you need to know about the guy. He identified the problem, and now, after his second straight All-Star nod, we’re seeing the results of that hardcore dedication. It’s a total transformation right before our eyes.
The Numbers Are Insane: This Isn’t Just Luck
Look, the stats don’t lie. His walk rate? It was a measly 4.5% last season. This year, it’s exploded to 11.2%! That’s massive. His chase percentage, which is how often he swings at pitches outside the zone, has dropped by more than six points. He’s swinging way less, but when he *does* swing, he’s making more contact, and he’s absolutely tattooing the ball, with his hard hit percentage up a full seven points. He told reporters, “Yeah, absolutely,” when asked if he’s pleased. He knows it too, saying, “Shoot, a year later, the OBP is higher than it’s ever been in my career, I think, minor league and the big leagues. I’m super proud of that and I’m really proud of getting on base as much as I have.” His career-best OBP before this year was .376 back in 2022, so this is a legitimate jump.
He’s not just walking more in general, either. Before this season, he had only two career multi-walk games. This season, in just the first 96 games, he’s already racked up nine, including two where he walked three times! And get this: he used to have just four career walks after getting into an 0-2 count. Already this year, he’s done it seven times. That kind of plate discipline changes everything. He even pointed to a three-walk game against the Astros on May 24, where he went 0 for 1, as the moment it all started to lock in for him. He said that game “set the tone.” That’s baller status, focusing on getting on base even when the box score doesn’t scream it.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is currently ranked the number two player in MLB, only behind Ohtani himself, and he’s still got so much season left. Can he maintain this insane level of plate discipline and continue to challenge for the MVP? Every single game matters now. It’s going to be an absolute must-watch as the second half plays out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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